California Regulators Approve 24/7 Robotaxi Operations in San Francisco
The California Public Utilities Commission votes 3-1 to allow Cruise and Waymo to operate driverless taxis around the clock and charge fares anywhere in San Francisco.
California regulators officially approve a massive expansion for driverless robotaxis in San Francisco. The California Public Utilities Commission votes 3-1 to allow Cruise and Waymo to operate their autonomous vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the entire city. This landmark decision permits both companies to charge passengers for rides without a human safety driver behind the wheel.
Until now, these companies operate under strict limitations within the city. Cruise previously only charges fares between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., while Waymo only charges for rides that include a human safety operator. The new resolutions remove these time and passenger restrictions, giving the companies the freedom to scale their commercial operations significantly.
The vote sparks mixed reactions as San Francisco enters a new era of transportation. Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma casts the sole dissenting vote, arguing that the commission lacks sufficient data to evaluate the safety of autonomous vehicles and their impact on first responders. Despite these concerns, industry supporters celebrate the decision as a major milestone for the commercialization of self-driving technology.